Ficus benjamina "Too Little"

Si Van Nguyen · Post by **Si Van Nguyen** » August 9th, 2009, 4:35 pm

Hello all,
It's been a while since I contributed any new trees here. Finally got some time tonight to set up a camera for a few shots.
Here is a Ficus benjamina I worked on for a few years. It is a Ficus "Too Little" variety which has smaller leaves than the usual F. benjamina. I started it about 6 years ago from a bunch of cuttings. The bases of the trunks are now fused together. I potted it in June 2009 for the fist time. It is about 100cm tall. Any comments or critiques would be appreciated.
Have a great day all!
Si

Si Van Nguyen · Post by **Si Van Nguyen** » August 9th, 2009, 4:59 pm

I forgot, here's the BEFORE picture from April 2009. I let the tree grow freely in a large deep pot for many years in order to thicken the trunks and fuse the base.

anttal63 · Post by **anttal63** » August 9th, 2009, 5:15 pm

wow si, very beautiful! you have inspired me to keep persaveering with mine. thanks.

daiviet_nguyen · Post by **daiviet_nguyen** » August 9th, 2009, 6:16 pm

Hi anh Si,

I like this pot -- it is a nice setting. I hope to see your other ficuses in
the future

.

Best regards.

sreeve · Post by **sreeve** » August 9th, 2009, 7:43 pm

Hi Si,
I bought a merged clump already in a pot.
I am repotting it at the moment and if it turns out half as good as yours I will be very happy.
You have a nice setting - congratulations
Steve

Pup · Post by **Pup** » August 10th, 2009, 1:14 am

G,day Si I like this group, but the crossing roots disturb my eye a lot.
I try to visualise them on an older tree growing over a younger trees roots!!.
For me it does not work to well. If it were my group I would try to fix that at the next re pot. Although if it is a penjing group that is fine.
JMHO

Pup

Si Van Nguyen · Post by **Si Van Nguyen** » August 10th, 2009, 6:04 am

Thanks for your comments everybody.

To Tony, yes, keep going with your ficus. Forget about them for awhile and let them surprise you.

To DaiViet, I'll try to take more pictures. It's a pain though, because I am by myself and some of my ficus are quite large and too heavy to carry by one person.

To Steve, that's what I started with too. The "trick" is to let it sit in one spot on the ground and let it grow freely without root cuttings for a few years. It could still be in the pot, but just let the roots come through the bottom for a 1-2 years. You would be surprise how fast you can get a decent bonsai out of it.

To Pup, yes I see what you mean about that crossing root. Somehow it is so much more noticeable in pictures. Maybe I need to adjust the front view a little bit, like rotating it a bit to the right. That fat root is actually fused with some larger roots just below the moss, so if I remove the moss, it probably won't look so obvious. The base of the entire clump is actually almost one solid piece below the soil level. The roots that you are seeing now are actually aerial roots from the trunks that I wired down a few years ago.

This tree needs a defoliation next, then on to branch development. I still haven't decide how I should do the branch structures though. I am still considering a flat-top look for this clump. What do you guys think?

Si

AusBonsai

Ficus benjamina "Too Little"

Ficus benjamina "Too Little"

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Re: Ficus benjamina "Too Little"

Re: Ficus benjamina "Too Little"

Re: Ficus benjamina "Too Little"

Re: Ficus benjamina "Too Little"

Re: Ficus benjamina "Too Little"